Liquid-projecting device



H. E. TUNNELL.

LIQUID PROJECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-7,1919.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEIIT 2.

parse stares HARRY E. TUNNELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LIQUID-PROJECTING DEVICE.

mamas.

Application filed. April '7, 1919.

T all 1071 0773 it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, HARRY E. TUNNELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid Projecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for projecting liquids from receptacles in which they are contained. Primarily, the invention is designed for use in connection with fire-extinguishers employing carbon tetra chlorid or other suitable liquids, but the construction may also be applied tor'the spraying of paints, of disinfecting or cleaning liquids, and the like. The object of my present invention is to provide a very simple construction adapted for use in different positions, and embodying stationary intakes dipping into the liquid and cooperating with a gravity-valve which will automatically take such a position as to insure, at all times, the connection of the outlet or nozzle of the receptacle with the particular intake or intakes dipping into the liquid at that time, thereby insuring a steady stream of liquid, and guarding against the possibility of a temporary connection of said outlet with the air-space of the receptacle.

While many different constructions may be devised without departing from the nature of my invention as set forth in the appended claims, I prefer the embodiment represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through the receptacle or container, with the interior parts shown in elevation; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section taken on line 22 of Fig. 3; Figs. 3 ends are cross sections on lines 33 and 4t4 respectively of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section, substantially on the line 2A-BCA2 of Fig. 3, showing certain parts in a sort of developed fashion, for the sake of clearness; and Fig. 6 is a detail section on line 66 of Fig. 2.

The receptacle or container shown comprises a cylindrical shell 10 and two heads 11, 12, preferably plane, in their main portions. lhe head 11 is provided with a filling Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Serial No. 288,183.

opening normally closed by a plug 13, while the head 12, which is preferably set back from the adjacent edge of the shell 10, has an opening with a flange 12 against which 1s applied and secured, as by soldering, plate 14 having a central perforation through which projects the tip of the nozzle 15, said tip terminating within the recess formed by setting the head 12 back of the edge of the shell, so that the nozzle tip is in a protected position. The nozzle 15 is shown as screwed into an outlet casing 16, one end of which is fitted into the opening of the head 12. In the particular construction, illustrated, the nozzle 15 has a paspage 15 leading to a central chamber,

15", separated by an annular partition 15* from an annular chamber 15% surrounded by another annular wall 15? which is provided with one or more apertures 15 (preferably tour) through which said chamber 15 communicates permanently with another annular chamber 15. This latter chamber is in communication with a channel 17 provided in the casing 16 and leading to a chamber 17, containing a ball or other valve 18 adapted to engage one or the other of two valve seats 17", 17 From the seat 17* a channel 18 leads to one compartment 19' of a pump barrel 19 having one of its ends set into a suitable socket of the casing 16, a partition 16 separating said compartment 19 from a chamber 16 in which is adapted to move a sliding valve 20 adapted to engage the edges of the partition 15* and of the annular wall 15". Under conditions specified hereinafter, the valve 20 is held down on its seats by a spring 21, which is of greater strength than another coiled spring 22, tending to open said valve. The valve 20 may if desired engage the wall of the chamber 16", but it is not necessary that a tight fit should be employed, that is, the valve 20 is not intended to be, necessarily, a piston valve. The spring 21 surrounds the shank 23 of a slide having a disk 23' engaged by the end of said spring, and a rod 23 projecting into the chamber 19 through a perforation of the partition 16, and adapted to be engaged by the projecting inner end 24 of the piston rod 24; secured to the piston The valve seat 17 is shown as formed on a separate section 16* secured to the body of the outlet casing in any suitable manner, as by crimping an edge of said body 16 over the edge of the section 16*. From the seat 17 a duct 17* leads to a pipe 26 comm uni eating with a channel 27' in a casing 27 which is set against the head 11 and has a recess for the other end of the pump barrel 19. The channel 27 is in permanent communication with the compartment 19 of the pump barrel. The head 11 is made with an opening provided with a flange 11 similar to the flange 12, the outer end of the casing 27 engaging said flange, against the outer face of which is secured, as by soldering, a plate 28 formed with a sleeve 28 having an annular groove, 28". Through this sleeve extends a gland 29, screwed into a box 30 fitted into a recess of the casing 27. The gland 29 engages a washer 31 made of felt or other suitable material, and on the inner side of said washer are located in said box, first two dished washers of spring metal, 31 and 31", provided with central openings of suflicient size and proper arrangement to always provide a passage for air and liquid, as will be explained hereinafter, to and from a chamber 32 which is in permanent communication with the interior of the container by means of suitable apertures 33 in the box 30 and casing 27; then follows, at the inner portion of the box 30, another washer 34 of asbestos felt or other suitable material. The piston rod 24 extends through the washers 34, 31, 31, and 31 and through the gland 29, and is provided with a suitable operating handle at its outer end. This handle may be of the particular construction shown herein and claimed in another application iiled by me simultaneously herewith, Serial No. 288,184. In this particular construction, the handle comprises a section 35 secured to the piston rod rigidly, and another section 36 mounted to slide on said rod lengthwise and pressed away from the other section by a spring 37. With the piston rod is also connected rigidly a member 38 carrying balls 39, while the section 36 is connected with a member 49 which controls the position of the balls 39, which in the position Fig. 2 are shown in looking engagement with the sleeve 28, at the groove 28". The features of the packing box and of the washers 31, 31" providing an air vent and a liquid return passage, as explained below, are very similar to those disclosed in my pending application for Letters Patent of the United States Serial No. 271,830 filed January 18, 1919, in which such features are claimed.

The casing 27 has a second channel 2 which like the channel 27 is in permanent communication with the pump compartment 19", and this channel 27 leads to a chamber 41 in which is located a ball valve 42 adapted to open into said chamber, that is to say, toward the pump, and controlling the connection of said chamber 41 with another chamber 43, extending lengthwise of the container, that is to say, parallel to the pump axis. The outer end of the chamber 41 may be closed by a plug 44 provided with a ball-confining flange 45 preferably made with notches so that the liquid may pass .through said flange instead of being forced;

to travel around its edge. The plug may be secured by crimping an edge of the easing 27. Similarly, the casing 16 has a passage 18 which, like the channel 18, is in permanent communication with the pump compartment 19, said passage or channel 18 leading to a chamber 41, the connection of which with another chamber 43 is controlled by a ball valve 42, confined by a flange 45 on a plug 44', these parts being practically duplicates of those desc ibed in connection with the casing 27. The two chambers 43, 43 are in axial alinement, and in them are adapted to turn on their axes, and also to slide lengthwise, two tubes 46, 46 open at both ends and secured with their adjacent ends to a member 47 having a passage 47. in registry or in communication with said tubes 46,46, and also provided at one side with a weight 47" so that whenever the container is given a different position, the valve member consisting of the parts 46, 46, 47, 47 will be caused, by gravity, to assume a proper controlling position, as will be explained presently. I prefer to arrange the pump at one side of the container, and to locate the barrel 19 at such a distance from the gravity valve member that the latter can swing in a complete circle, all the way around the axis D, that is to say, the distance DF is made greater than the distanceD-E, and the axis D is preferably located about midway between the pump axis A and the opposite portion of the shell 10, this arrangement providing the most useful sweep of the gravity valve member and also a very convenient arrangement for the intakes to be described presently. Each of the tubes 46, 46 is provided on the same side, that is, in the'same plane passing through the axis D, with an opening or port 48, 48 respectively, adapted to establish communication with at least one of the intakes 49, 49 respectively, each of which is provided with a port 50, 50 respectively opening into the chamber 43 or 43 respectively. The ports 50 form an annular series located in transverse alinement, and similarly, the ports 50 form another annular series in transverse alinement. The distance between the two sets of ports 50, 50 is'different from the distance between the ports 48 and 48, so that when one of the ports 48, 48 is in position to register with one set of ports 50 or 50, the other port 48 or 48 normally cannot register with any one of the ports of the other annular series 50 or 50 respectively. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the distance between the ports 48, 48 is less than the distance between the series of ports 50 and the series of ports 50. The intakes 49, 49' are preferably oblique relatively to the axis D, and converge toward the ports 50, 50 respectively. The inlet ends of these intakes are preferably quite close to the heads 11 and 12 respectively, and arranged at ap proximately or exactly equal distances from the axis of the container, when the latter is cylindrical, and also at approximately equal distances from each other, see Figs. 3 and 4. Thus, in the construction shown, the inlet ends of all the intakes 49 will'be in the same plane perpendicular to the axis D, and the inlet ends of the intakes 49 will all be in another plane likewise perpendicular to the axis D.

It will be obvious that the weight 47 will cause the gravity valve 46, 46, 47 to take a definite positionrelatively to the stationary intakes 49, 49', said valve member moving both lengthwise of the axis D, under the influence of ravity, and also turning about said axis, w en the latter is not absolutely vertical. Fig. 2 illustrates a position of the containerin which the axis Dis absolutely vertical; in practice such a position will. occur but seldom, and then only for a moment. Fig. 2 however shows clearly that under these exceptional conditions, while the circumferential position of the weight 47 will be indefinite, the entire gravity valve member 46, 46', 47, 47" will be caused to slide lengthwise of the axis D in the direction of the nozzle 15, until the tube 46 engages a stop shoulder on the casing 16, such shoulder being so located that'it will insure registry of the port 48' with the series of ports 50. The relative width of the ports 48, 48, and 50, 50, and their relative positions are such as to insure that, in every position of the gravity valve member, the port 48 or 48 will register with at least one of the ports 50 or 50. In fact, the land between two adjacent ports 50 or 50 will preferably be narrower than the corresponding port 48 or 48', so that such port 48 or 48 may at times register simultaneously with two adjacent ports 50 or 50. Similarly, it is also preferable to have the distance between the ports 48, 48 and the distance between the series of ports 50 and the series of ports 50 so proportioned that before the port 48 or 48 comes out of registry with the series of ports 50 or 50, the other port 48 or 48 will begin to register with the series of ports 50 or 50; thus, in the exceptional case of the axis D being perfectly horizontal, and the valve member 46,

46', 47, 47 exactly midway of its longitudinal play or travel, both ports 48 and 48 might for the moment be in registry with one or two ports 50 and 50 respectively. Whenever the container is held so that the axis D will be other than perfectly vertical, the weight 47 will gravitate to a position vertically under said axis, causing the valve member 46, 46, 47, 47 to swing about said axis, and in each case, the chamber 48 or 48 will be connected with the particular intake 49 or 49 the inlet end of which occupies the lowermost position at that time, the valve both sliding lengthwise of its axis D, and turning on said axis to accomplish this result. I thus insure that at all times liquid will be drawn from the lowermost portion of the container, whatever position may be given to said container. The operation of the pump itself is, briefly described, as follows: First, the operator by grasping the handle 35, 36 causes its two sections to approach each other against the tension of the spring 37, thereby removing-the member 40 from the position in which it looks the balls 39 in the groove 28", and enabling the handle with the piston rod 24 and piston 25 to be reciprocated. As these parts move outward, the inner end 24 of the piston rod allows the slide 23, 28, 23 to pass from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the one shown in Fig. 5, and the valve 20 is opened by the action of the spring 22. At the same time, the outward stroke of the piston causes liquid to be drawn from the intake 49 or 49 which is lowermost at that time, through the corresponding port 48 or 48 and the tube 46 or 46' into the chamber 43 (either direct, if the port 48' is in operation, or through the tube 46, passage 47, and tube 46', in case the port 48 is in operation) the valve 42 is closed as in Fig. 2, but the valve 42 is open in response to the suction of the pump, so that the liquid will pass from the chamber 43 to the suction chamber 41, the passage 18", and the compartment 19 of the pump barrel 19. At the same time, the valve 18 is upon its seat 17*, so that the compartment 19 of the pump is disconnected from the nozzle 15. During this outward stroke, the liquid which may be contained in the compartment 19 is pushed by the piston 25 into the delivery channel 27 and the pipe 26, passage 17, chamber 15 apertures 15, into the chamber 15, so that even if the spring 22 should have failed to lift the valve 20, the pressure of the liquid forced into the chamber 15 will insure theopening of said valve. The liquid will then pass from the chamber 15 into the chamber 16", and out through the central chamber 15 and the passage 15' of the nozzle 15. It will be noted that the valve 20 (which may have a facing of soft material to insure better scating) is provided with a pointed projection '20 extending toward the chamber 15 and passage 15; the purpose of this projection is to deflect the liquid in such a manner as to cause it to remain in the condition of a stream; 1 have found that ii this projection is omitted, the liquid, by impinging against the fiat surface of the valve, is liable to be broken up into a spray, which is undesirable when the apparatus is used as a fire-extinguisher. During the instroke of the piston, the valve 12 will open, the valve 42 will close, and the valve 18 will engage the seat 17 all under the influence of the suction and pressure of the liquid, the compartment 19 becoming the pressure compartment, and the compartment 19 the suction compartment of the pump. Liquid will therefore pass from the lowermost intake 19 or 49 to the tube 16 or d6 and into the chambers a3 and 41, the suction channel 27", and the compartment 19 of the pump; at the same time, liquid will be expelled from the compartment 19 through the channel 18, chamber 17 passage 17, and from there on to the outlet or nozzle 15 as before. Air to replace the liquid expelled will enter along the piston rod and through the outer washer 31, the oblong or otherwise suitably shaped aperture at the center of the spring washer 31, the chamber 32, and the apertures 33 to the interior of the container. Any liquid which may leak from the pump along the piston rod will be caught by the inner washer 3%, and should the liquid pass outwardly beyond said washer, through the oblong hole in the center of the washer 31, such liquid will return to the interior of the container through the chamber 32 and the apertures 33, the current of air which passes through said apertures assisting in returning the liquid and in preventing its outward leakage through the spring washer 31 and the outer washer 31. These air-vent and liquid-return features are more fully set forth in my application Serial No. 271,830 referred to above.

hen the apparatus is not in use, the handle is pushed in fully, and by this mere longitudinal movement of the handle, followed by its release (to allow the spring 37 to force the two handle sections apart) I obtain two different results: First, the end at of the piston rod 2% will push the slide 23, 23, 23, the spring 21, and the valve 20 toward the nozzle 15 to seat said valve and seal the outlet, against the tension of the spring 22. The purpose of interposing the spring 21 between the valve 20 and the slide 23, 23, 23 is to insure a proper seating of the valve even if the part-s are worn, or not constructed very accurately. Second, the member &0 is brought to the position Fig. 2, in which the balls 39 are forced into the groove 28 ot the stationary sleeve 28, so as to lock the handle (and therefore the piston rod and the piston) against longitudinal motion, so that the pump cannot be operated until the balls 39 are released in the manner set forth above. Of course, the locking of the handle, piston, and piston rod against longitudinal movement also locks the valve 20 in the sealing position, thereby preventing leakage at the nozzle. Leakage at the handle may be prevented by a washer 51.

I claim as my invention:

1. A container provided with a plurality of stationary intakes having their inlets in different planes passing through the longitudinal axis of the container, whereby the inlets of different intakes will be brought to a lowermost position when the container is turned while its longitudinal axis is inclined or horizontal, an outlet for the liquid, and a gravity valve arranged. to permit the liquid to pass to said outlet "from the container by way of the intake the inlet end of which is lowermost at the time.

2. A container providediwith a gravity valve mounted to turn, stationary intakes located in the container and having their inlets controlled by, said valve and distributed around the axis about which the said valve is adapted to turn, and an outlet to discharge the liquid taken from the container through the intake which is lowermost at the time.

3. A container comprising a cylindrical shell, heads at the ends thereof, stationary intakes having their inlets located adjacent to the respective heads and distributed around the longitudinal axis of the con-, tainer, a valve controlling said intakes and mounted to swing about an axis extendng hwise of the container, and an outiet to u scharge the liquid taken from the con tainer through the intake which is lowermost at the time.

i. A container provided with stationary intakes having their inlets located adjacent to the ends of the container, at different points of its periphery, a gravity valve controlling said intakes and mounted to turn about an axis extending lengthwise of the container, and also to move lengthwise of such axis, and an outlet to discharge the liquid taken from the container through the intake which is lowermost at the time.

5. A container provided with stationary intakes having their inlets at different points adjacent to the outer wall of the container, and their outlets at equal distances from an axis located between said inlets, a gravity valve mounted to turn about said axis and cont olling said intakes, and an outlet to discharge the liquid taken from the container through the intake which is lowermost at the time.

6. A container provided with stationary intakes having their inlets within the container and distributed around its longitudinal axis, said intakes converging toward their outlets, a gravity valve controlling the outlets of said intakes, and a nozzle to discharge the liquid taken from the container through the intake the inlet of which is lowermost at the time.

7. A container provided with a gravity valve mounted to turn about an axis-extending lengthwise of the container, stationary intakes located within the container and having their inlets at different points adjacent to the outer wall of the container, and their outlets controlled by said valve and located at equal distances from said axis, and a nozzle to discharge the liquid taken from the container through the intake the inlet of which is lowermost at the time.

8. A container provided with a gravity valve mounted to turn about an axis extending lengthwise of the container, stationary intakes located within the container, in two sets adjacent to the ends of the con tainer, said intakes having their inlets at different points adjacent to the outer wall of the container, and their outlets controlled by said valve and located at equal distances from said axis, in each set, the outlets of the same set being in substantially the same transverse plane, and a nozzle to discharge the liquid taken from the container through the intake the inlet of which is lowermost at the time.

9. A container provided with a gravity valve having a longitudinal passage, and

mounted to turn about the axis of said pas-- sage, stationary intakes located within the container and having their inlets distributed around said axis, and their outlets adapted to register with a port of said passage, according to the position of said valve, and a nozzle to discharge the liquid taken from the container through the intake inlet which is lowermost at the time.

10. A container provided with a gravity valve having a longitudinal passage with lateral ports near the ends of said passa e, said valve being mounted to turn about t e axis of said passage, and to slide lengthwise thereof, stationary intakes located in the container in two sets adjacent to the ends of the container, and provided with inlets distributed around said axis, and with outlets adapted to register with said lateral ports and located adjacent to said axis, two chambers alining lengthwise and each adapted to receive one end of the valve with its longitudinal passage, for longitudinal sliding and for rotary movement, and a nozzle to discharge the liquid taken from the container and delivered to said longitudinal passage from the intake the inlet of which is lowermost at the time.

11. A container provided with an outlet, a pump for discharging through said outlet, liquid taken from the container, a gravity valve supported to turn about an axis located within the container exteriorly of the pump, and stationary intakes the connection of which with the pump is controlled by said gravity valve.

12. A container provided with an outlet, a pump for discharging liquid through said outlet, said pump including a barrel extending lengthwise of the container, a gravity valve supported to turn about an axis located within the container exteriorly of said barrel and parallel to the barrel axis, and stationary intakes the connection of which with the pump is controlled by said gravity valve.

13. A container provided with an outlet, a gravity valve mounted to turn, stationary intakes having their inlets disposed around the axis about which the valve swings, said valve controlling the connection of the intakes with the suction side of the pump, and means for conveying the liquid to said outlet from the delivery side of the pump.

14;. A container provided with an outlet, a pump for discharging through said outlet, liquid taken from the container, said pump including a barrel extending lengthwise of the container a 'ravit valve mounted to turn about an axis located exteriorly of the pump barrel and parallel to the barrel axis, the radial dimension of said valve being less than the distance from saidaxis to the adjacent portion of the pump barrel, whereby the valve in its swinging movement may pass between said axis and the pump barrel, and stationary intakes the connection of which with the pum is controlled by said swinging gravity va ve.

15. A container provided with an outlet, two members having spaced longitudinallyalining chambers, a double-acting pump the respective compartments of which have valve-controlled suction-connections with said chambers, a gravity valve having a passage communicating with both chambers and alining ends mounted to turn and slide in said chambers, stationary intakes the connection of which with said chambers is controlled by said gravity valve, and valved means for connecting the delivery side of the pump with said outlet.

16. A container provided with an outlet, two members having spaced longitudinallyalining chambers and stationary intakes the outlets of which open into said chambers at different points of their peripheries, a double-acting pump the respective compartments of which are connected with said chambers, suction valves located in said pump connections and opening toward the pump, valved delivery connections leading from the pump compartments to said outlet, and a gravity valve having a passage communicating with both of said chambers permanently and also having lateral ports adapt ed to register with one or the other of said intake outlets, according to the position given to the container.

' 17. A container provided with intakes having their inlets at different points around the marginal portion of the container, a gravity valve controlling the outlets of said intakes in such a manner as to render 0perative the intake whose inlet is lowermost in each particular position of the container, and means to discharge the liquid taken from the container through the intake whose inlet is lowermost at that time.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

HARRY E. TUNNELL. 

